How to Paint Designs for Outside the House

Be careful not to spray over the outside edges of the stencil.

If you would like to paint designs for the outside of the house, there are a few things you should consider before you start. First, unless you are a talented artist, you will have a difficult time painting intricate designs freehand, and you'll have to utilize a stencil for professional-looking results. In addition, because these designs are outdoors, it's important to choose a specific type of paint that can hold up to harsh weather conditions, or you will eventually see chipping and peeling.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pen knife or razor blade
• Cardboard
• Pressure washer
• Blue painter's tape
• Exterior latex spray primer
• Exterior acrylic latex spray paint

Instructions

1. Print your design on paper.

2. Place the paper on top of a piece of cardboard so the design is face up.

3. Cut out the design with a pen knife or a razor blade. Remove the cutout, leaving a hole in the paper in the shape of your design. Use the paper with the hole as your stencil.

4. Wash the area you plan to paint with a pressure washer. Allow the surface to dry completely.

5. Tape the stencil to the area on the outside of the house where you want the design, using blue painter's tape.

6. Spray over the hole with exterior latex spray primer. Be careful not to spray over the outside edges of the stencil. Do not remove the stencil. Allow the primer to dry for two hours.

7. Apply two coats of exterior acrylic latex paint in the same way you applied the primer. Allow two hours of dry time between coats. Wait four hours for the paint to cure before you remove the stencil.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to apply designs to a metallic surface outside the house, use an etching primer in place of an ordinary spray primer.

Resources

• Popular Mechanics: 5 Pro Painting Tips Every Amateur Should Know